Sundance photos: Dakota Fanning and cast with Jenny Lewis at 'Very Good Girls'

Published January 24, 2013 2:37 pm

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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Appearing on the red carpet for "Very Good Girls" were Dakota Fanning, Boyd Holbrook, Jenny Lewis, formerly of the rock band Rilo Kiley, who served as composer and music supervisor on the film, and screenwriter/director Naomi Foner. Also appearing in the film are Elizabeth Olsen, Demi Moore, Richard Dreyfuss and Ellen Barkin.

The coming-of-age tale explores the dynamics of family and friendships as it tells the story of two best friends, Lilly (Fanning) and Gerry (Olsen) who, during their last summer before parting ways for college, learn some unexpected lessons about life, love and the true meaning of friendship.

The girls meet Brooklyn boy David (Holbrook), whom they both fall for, and Lilly soon begins a secret relationship with him. As Lilly's home life falls apart, Gerry becomes more obsessed with David, while Lilly seeks solace in her first romance. However, a tragedy in Gerry's family catapults Lilly back into reality, and she must face the consequences of her actions.

Foner has been a working screenwriter for more than 30 years, and this is her first film as a director. She received an Academy Award nomination for her screenplay for "Running on Empty" in 1988. Foner said she felt there are a lack of coming-of-age tales for young girls, and she loved working with the cast, particularly Fanning and Olsen, who she described as "really talented, incredibly gorgeous, inside and out, and incredibly smart."

Fanning said she was friends with Olsen before they began filming, which helped her performance. "Elizabeth brings out a real honesty for me," she said. "Because you never want to lie to people you're close to, and part of acting is that you are trying not to lie the other actor."

When asked how girls should deal with pressure on them to be perfect, she said: "Give it up  noone will ever be perfect and as soon as you realize that, you can start living your life. 'Very Good Girls' is a story about doing the right thing all the time and that's impossible."

Daisy Blake

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